An argument over cutting in line at a Gary, Indiana gas station escalated into a fatal act of violence that claimed the life of 31-year-old Ivana Jenkins. The female victim was shot and killed on June 14, 2021, following a dispute that began inside the Clark gas station on West 5th Avenue.
Surveillance footage captured the events of that day, showing two men attempting to cut in line, leading to a verbal altercation with Jenkins.
The confrontation spilled outside, where the situation quickly turned violent. One of the men slapped Jenkins, and as she fought back, the second man joined the assault, pistol-whipping her. During the struggle, one of the assailants shot her. Jenkins was transported to Methodist Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Following an investigation, authorities identified two suspects: Daniel L. Malone, 19, of Lafayette, and Terry Thomas, 23, of Gary. Both men were subsequently arrested and charged with murder and battery by means of a deadly weapon. Court documents revealed that during the altercation, Jenkins appeared to have pulled a pendant from one of the suspects. Police were able to identify Thomas and Malone from their prior criminal records. Malone was arrested in March of the following year, while Thomas was taken into custody in July after the incident.
